A RAPIST who was hiding out in KwaMakhutha was arrested, convicted and subsequently sentenced to a lengthy imprisonment after an alert member of the public informed police of his whereabouts.
Sizwe Thando Dlamini (22) of Amandawe was arrested on 1 July for the rape and murder of Nonhle Mellisa Gumede (7), after a member of the public read a newspaper article on him and contacted investigating officer, Capt Khumalo.
He was nabbed with the assistance of the Port Shepstone Tactical Response Team (TRT) and the Scottburgh SAPS Crime Prevention Unit and detective services. In the Scottburgh Regional Court on 8 July, Dlamini was convicted of housebreaking with intent to kidnap and kidnapping, rape and murder.
On Monday, 21 July, he was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for housebreaking and kidnapping, 15 years for murder and life imprisonment for rape. The sentences are to run concurrently. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm and the court ordered that his name be entered in the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO).
“At the time of the incident on Saturday, 5 October 2013, Nonhle had been staying at her grandmother’s home in Majenda ward, Amandawe with her three-year-old sister. Both girls slept in one room while the grandmother slept in an adjacent room. The girls, who lived in Shayamoya ward, were visiting along with their aunt. The door was closed but unlocked, as the aunt had gone out and was expected back later. When the grandmother awoke at about 1.30am, she found Nonhle missing and the door standing ajar. The children’s aunt had not returned,” said Col Jay Naicker of the KZN police media centre.
A missing person’s enquiry was registered at Scottburgh SAPS. Searches in the immediate vicinity of the residence carried out by Scottburgh SAPS, Umzinto K9 Unit, Port Shepstone Search and Rescue Unit as well as the child’s relatives and community members, proved futile.
At about 9.30am on Friday, 11 October, locals who had gone to the Majenda River to do their washing, found the child’s body in the river. The body, which had already begun decomposing was taken to the Park Rynie state mortuary where it was established during the post mortem that she had been raped and murdered.
The Scottburgh SAPS detective service registered charges of housebreaking with intent to kidnap and kidnapping, rape and murder for investigation. The prime suspect, known in the community as Thando, disappeared from the area and was on the run from police.
Captain Khumalo activated his informer network and called on the public, via the media, to help track him down and he was arrested on 1 July in KwaMakhutha.
KZN provincial commissioner Lt Gen Mmamonnye Ngobeni commended the various police units involved for securing a good conviction and for the excellent investigation. “I am pleased that another criminal has learnt that you cannot escape the long arm of the law. Although he fled the area where he committed his evil crimes and went into hiding, he was flushed out and made to stand trial in court,” she said.
